Assigning screen designation codes to images

ABSTRACT

A method of assigning screen designation codes to images is disclosed. The method includes accessing data operable to display a first image and a second image. A first screen designation code is assigned to the first image, wherein the first screen designation code is associated with a first display screen of a multi-component display, and wherein the first screen designation code is operable to cause a display of the first image on the first display screen of the multi-component display. A second screen designation code is assigned to the second image, wherein the second screen designation code is associated with a second display screen of the multi-component display, wherein the first display screen and the second display screen overlap, and wherein the second screen designation code is operable to cause a display of the second image on the second display screen of the multi-component display.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/048,966, filed Feb. 6, 2002, naming Gabriel Engel and PitaWitehira as inventors, assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention, and having attorney docket number PURE-P003, which claims thebenefit of International Application Number PCT/NZ00/00161, filed Aug.18, 2000, which claims the benefit of New Zealand Patent Number 337334,filed Aug. 19, 1999. Each of these applications is incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many software programs these days display information on a screen usingeffective a multi-layered approach.

For example, a drawing package may have a central area which thesoftware user can draw upon.

In a typical drawing package there are many drop down menus, tool bars,cursors or templates which effectively overlay the drawing on thescreen. The reason for this is that there is only limited screen areaavailable. Thus, for the user to be able to view the functions to beselected, some of the drawing space has to be borrowed for this.

Often, the user is placed in the undesirable position of having to movearound the tool bars and menus if possible, or alternatively move thedrawing (or whatever file the user is working on) so that the user canactually see parts of the drawing formerly obscured by the menus and soforth.

There is another related problem experienced by software users,particularly in relation to drawing packages, but not exclusively.

Often when compiling a drawing, it is necessary to compile the drawingusing several layers of “objects”. A typical drawing function gives theuser the ability to determine whether the object is viewed as being atthe back of the picture or overlaying everything at the front of thepicture. This can in some cases lead to the objects at the back of thepicture being obscured by larger objects at the front of the picture.Thus, the user cannot readily select the object at the back of thepicture with it being obscured.

This is understandably frustrating and can impede the user's ability towork efficiently, often requiring the user to move the front object soas to gain access to the back object.

This frustration is not limited to drawing packages. It can also befrustrating to not having ready access to the multiple levels in suchdiverse applications as geographical information system (GIS) programs,including medical models, instrumentation using browsers for theinternet or game software, for example flight simulators.

All of the aforementioned packages have information on various levelswith which the user would desire ready access to.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoingproblems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of exampleonly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided amethod for creating a visual effect in the display of software whereinthe software is for the presentation of data or images on a screen usingsoftware functions, the method characterized by the steps of: a)assigning a particular screen designation code to some softwarecomponents; and b) assigning other screen designation code to othercomponents of the software, wherein the screen designation codedetermines which physical screen the image or software components isdisplayed in a multi-level screen display.

In further embodiments of the invention, the software components beingassigned a particular screen designation code all relate to images beingmanipulated. However this should not be seen as limiting. The imagebeing manipulated can mean the manipulation of any image, whether theimage is in text format, numbers, graphical or otherwise.

For example, the present invention can be used in relation to softwarefor word processing, drawing, financial and scientific information,flight simulators, internet browsers, spreadsheets, slot machines,instrumentation, medical programs, mapping programs, games and the like.

In some embodiments of the present invention certain software componentsmay be reference data of lesser importance than other data. This, is thedata of greater importance may be assigned to the front screen where asdata of lesser importance may be placed on background or midgroundscreen. In preferred embodiments if there is an image on the screenwhich is being manipulated via software functions—even if it is a gamescene “being traveled through”—it has a particular screen designationseparate to other functions.

It is envisaged that in most cases, the other components of software arestandard features which come with the software program. For example,screen template, drop down menus, function keys, cursors, tool bars,head-up displays and the like. However, in some embodiments of thepresent invention, the different components of the image may be assigneda separate designation code, for example an object which is laid overpart of the image.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the method can be appliedto existing software, for example Microsoft Word™, MicrosoftPowerpoint™, Adobe Photoshop™, MacroMedia Director™ and so forth.However, in other embodiments of the present invention there may becreated software which uses the principles behind the present invention.

The screen designation code is merely a code that identifies whichphysical screen the image or software component is displayed upon.

The inventors of the present invention also invented a multi-levelscreen display and this is described in detail in PCT Application Nos.PCT/NZ98/00098 and PCT/NZ99/00021.

This is a device which is created by combining multiple layers ofselectively transparent screens. Each screen is capable of showing animage. In preferred embodiments, the screen layers are liquid crystaldisplays. Preferably the screens are aligned parallel to each other witha preset distance between them.

With this invention, images displayed on the screen furthest from theview (background screen), will appear at some depth behind the imagesdisplayed on the screen closest to the viewer (foreground screen). Thetransparent portions on the foreground screen will allow viewers to seeimages displayed on the background screen.

This arrangement of layering multiple screens allows images to bepresented at multiple levels giving the viewer true depth without use ofglass or lens.

The present invention shall now refer to use with a multi-level screenas described above although this should not be seen as limiting.

It should be appreciated that although reference shall be madethroughout this specification now to only background and foregroundscreens, other aspects of the present invention may utilize more thantwo screens. For example, with drawing packages all of the readilyuseable software functions may be on the foreground while various layersof the drawing may be on the multiple screens behind the foregroundscreen.

With the present invention, a screen designation code may be used toplace all of the standard software functions, templates, tool bars andthe like on the foreground screen. However, the image being worked uponmay be placed on the background screen. This arrangement allows the userof the software to effectively look behind the foreground components toview the image being manipulated.

This ability may be enhanced if the traditional opaque background to thefunctions has varying shades of transparency. This feature may beimparted by a version of software in accordance with the presentinvention.

Thus, there is now no requirement for the user to move around on screenvarious toolbars and the like so as to get a full view of the image.

Further, if the package is for example, a drawing package, theforeground and background components may actually be on differentscreens, again allowing the viewer to view and possibly select thedrawing components without one obscuring the other.

To allow the drawings components to be readily and/or manipulated, thecomponents themselves may have different transparencies. Further, thetraditional white palette may be fully transparent.

There are a number of methods by which the present invention can beimplemented.

In some embodiments of the present invention it may be that existingsoftware is coded to identify screen functions which are normally“always on top” or “always at back”. If this is the case, one embodimentof the present invention will be an interface that identifies the codingon existing software with these identifiers and assign the varioussoftware components (e.g. a toolbar) to the appropriate foreground orbackground screen.

The interface maybe a patch for existing software, a display driver, alibrary file or a new front end for multiple existing software packagesor a completely new operating system. Instead of software, graphic cardsmay be used to divide the images appropriately. This will increase thespeed of operation considerably.

Further aspects of the present inventions provide a media which cancontain instructions for the operation of method as described.

The background fill of “always on top” functions can be made fully orpartially transparent by the present invention.

With existing software that does not have such coding, it may benecessary to implement the present invention by having customizedsoftware in which the software developer specifies the software routineswhich cause the appropriate components and images to go on theappropriate screens.

Other aspects of the present invention include not just interfaceprograms which enable existing software to be used on multi-leveldisplays, but original software programs which likewise utilize theconcept of having a screen for the file or image being worked upon andother screens for more standard software functions, templates and thelike.

There is software available which can be used with multiple monitorsplaced side by side. This software has screen designation codes as such,in that the x-axis coordinate determines on which of the monitors theinformation is to be displayed. It is envisaged that this software couldbe used in the present invention with a code which normally would assignan image to a particular monitor will now assign that image or datapixel to one of the screens in a multi-level display.

Other aspects of the present invention include an operating system whichincorporates the principles of the present invention as previouslydescribed and also a web browser which also incorporates the principlesas previously described.

It can be seen that the present invention adds a new dimension,literally and figuratively to existing software and potential for newsoftware.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional screen display.

FIG. 2 illustrates a foreground screen display in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a background screen display in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With respect to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a typical screen displayfound in commercial software, in this case, the commercial software isMicrosoft Powerpoint™.

On this display there is an external template (1), two toolbars (2, 3),a drop down menu (4) and an image to be manipulated (5) on a palette(6).

It can be seen that the toolbars (2, 3) and drop down menu (4) obscurethe image (5) and palette (6).

With the present invention, the common components of the software can beplaced on the foreground screen of a multi-level screen display asillustrated in FIG. 2. It should be noted that the palette (6) and theimage (5) are not displayed on the foreground screen.

Instead, the image (5) is displayed on a background screen asillustrated in FIG. 3. With the present invention there is no need todisplay a palette.

The separation of the image (5) from the standard software components(1, 2, 3 and 4) is achieved by the present invention assigning screendesignation codes to each of these which determine whether they areplaced on the foreground or background screen. Again, it should beappreciated that there may be more than two screens and these componentscan be placed on any of these.

Not illustrated is the effect of having the foreground screen over thebackground screen as this is a 3-dimensional effect difficult to show.However, as the foreground screen is a physical distance from thebackground screen and transparent in places to respect to the backgroundscreen, it is possible for the user to look around and behind the toolbars and drop down menu to view the image on the background screen.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of exampleonly and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions maybe made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of assigning screen designation codes to images, said methodcomprising: accessing data operable to display a first image and asecond image; assigning a first screen designation code to said firstimage, wherein said first screen designation code is associated with afirst display screen of a multi-component display, and wherein saidfirst screen designation code is operable to cause a display of saidfirst image on said first display screen of said multi-componentdisplay; and assigning a second screen designation code to said secondimage, wherein said second screen designation code is associated with asecond display screen of said multi-component display, wherein saidfirst display screen and said second display screen overlap, and whereinsaid second screen designation code is operable to cause a display ofsaid second image on said second display screen of said multi-componentdisplay.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: displaying saidfirst image on said first display screen of said multi-componentdisplay, wherein said displaying said first image further comprisesdisplaying said first image using a first plurality of pixels of saidfirst display screen, and wherein said displaying said first imagefurther comprises displaying said first image in accordance with saidfirst screen designation code; and displaying said second image on saidsecond display screen of said multi-component display, wherein saiddisplaying said second image further comprises displaying said secondimage using a second plurality of pixels of said second display screen,and wherein said displaying said second image further comprisesdisplaying said second image in accordance with said second screendesignation code.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said displaying saidfirst image further comprises displaying said first image with partialtransparency to enable viewing of said second image through said firstimage.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein said displaying said firstimage and said displaying said second image are performedcontemporaneously.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first imageand said second image overlap.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein saidfirst image is associated with a foreground, and wherein said secondimage is associated with a background.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid assigning said first screen designation code further comprisesassigning said first screen designation code based upon a screenfunction of said first image.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein saidscreen function is selected from a group consisting of an always-on-topidentifier and an always-at-back identifier.
 9. The method of claim 1further comprising: determining, from said data, a depth relationship ofsaid first image with respect to said second image; wherein saidassigning said first screen designation code further comprises assigningsaid first screen designation code based upon said depth relationship;and wherein said assigning said second screen designation code furthercomprises assigning said second screen designation code based upon saiddepth relationship.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first imageis configured for manipulation by a user, and wherein said second imageis a component associated with said first image.
 11. The method of claim10, wherein said component is selected from a group consisting of asoftware function, a template, a drop down menu, a function key, acursor, a tool bar and a heads-up display.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein said first and second display screens each comprise a respectiveliquid crystal display (LCD).
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein saidassigning said first and second screen designation codes are performedby a display driver.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first andsecond images are associated with an application configured forexecution by a computer system coupled to multiple display devices. 15.The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second images areassociated with an operating system.
 16. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid first and second images are associated with a web browser.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said first and second images are associatedwith an application selected from a group consisting of a spreadsheetapplication, a word-processing application, a database application, apresentation application, a graphical application, a drawingapplication, an instrumentation application, a medical application, afinancial application, a scientific application, and a gamingapplication.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and secondimages are associated with a geographical information system.
 19. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said first and second images are associatedwith content selected from a group consisting of a video and a stillimage.
 20. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable programcode embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a methodof assigning screen designation codes to images, said method comprising:accessing data operable to display a first image and a second image;assigning a first screen designation code to said first image, whereinsaid first screen designation code is associated with a first displayscreen of a multi-component display, and wherein said first screendesignation code is operable to cause a display of said first image onsaid first display screen of said multi-component display; and assigninga second screen designation code to said second image, wherein saidsecond screen designation code is associated with a second displayscreen of said multi-component display, wherein said first displayscreen and said second display screen overlap, and wherein said secondscreen designation code is operable to cause a display of said secondimage on said second display screen of said multi-component display. 21.The computer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said method furthercomprises: displaying said first image on said first display screen ofsaid multi-component display, wherein said displaying said first imagefurther comprises displaying said first image using a first plurality ofpixels of said first display screen, and wherein said displaying saidfirst image further comprises displaying said first image in accordancewith said first screen designation code; and displaying said secondimage on said second display screen of said multi-component display,wherein said displaying said second image further comprises displayingsaid second image using a second plurality of pixels of said seconddisplay screen, and wherein said displaying said second image furthercomprises displaying said second image in accordance with said secondscreen designation code.
 22. The computer-usable medium of claim 21,wherein said displaying said first image further comprises displayingsaid first image with partial transparency to enable viewing of saidsecond image through said first image.
 23. The computer-usable medium ofclaim 21, wherein said displaying said first image and said displayingsaid second image are performed contemporaneously.
 24. Thecomputer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said first image and saidsecond image overlap.
 25. The computer-usable medium of claim 20,wherein said first image is associated with a foreground, and whereinsaid second image is associated with a background.
 26. Thecomputer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said assigning said firstscreen designation code further comprises assigning said first screendesignation code based upon a screen function of said first image. 27.The computer-usable medium of claim 26, wherein said screen function isselected from a group consisting of an always-on-top identifier and analways-at-back identifier.
 28. The computer-usable medium of claim 20,wherein said method further comprises: determining, from said data, adepth relationship of said first image with respect to said secondimage; wherein said assigning said first screen designation code furthercomprises assigning said first screen designation code based upon saiddepth relationship; and wherein said assigning said second screendesignation code further comprises assigning said second screendesignation code based upon said depth relationship.
 29. Thecomputer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said first image isconfigured for manipulation by a user, and wherein said second image isa component associated with said first image.
 30. The computer-usablemedium of claim 29, wherein said component is selected from a groupconsisting of a software function, a template, a drop down menu, afunction key, a cursor, a tool bar and a heads-up display.
 31. Thecomputer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said first and seconddisplay screens each comprise a respective liquid crystal display (LCD).32. The computer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said assigning saidfirst and second screen designation codes are performed by a displaydriver.
 33. The computer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said firstand second images are associated with an application configured forexecution by a computer system coupled to multiple display devices. 34.The computer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said first and secondimages are associated with an operating system.
 35. The computer-usablemedium of claim 20, wherein said first and second images are associatedwith a web browser.
 36. The computer-usable medium of claim 20, whereinsaid first and second images are associated with an application selectedfrom a group consisting of a spreadsheet application, a word-processingapplication, a database application, a presentation application, agraphical application, a drawing application, an instrumentationapplication, a medical application, a financial application, ascientific application, and a gaming application.
 37. Thecomputer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said first and second imagesare associated with a geographical information system.
 38. Thecomputer-usable medium of claim 20, wherein said first and second imagesare associated with content selected from a group consisting of a videoand a still image.
 39. A system comprising a processor and a memory,wherein said memory includes instructions that when executed by saidsystem implement a method of assigning screen designation codes toimages, said method comprising: accessing data operable to display afirst image and a second image; assigning a first screen designationcode to said first image, wherein said first screen designation code isassociated with a first display screen of a multi-component display, andwherein said first screen designation code is operable to cause adisplay of said first image on said first display screen of saidmulti-component display; and assigning a second screen designation codeto said second image, wherein said second screen designation code isassociated with a second display screen of said multi-component display,wherein said first display screen and said second display screenoverlap, and wherein said second screen designation code is operable tocause a display of said second image on said second display screen ofsaid multi-component display.
 40. The system of claim 39, wherein saidmethod further comprises: displaying said first image on said firstdisplay screen of said multi-component display, wherein said displayingsaid first image further comprises displaying said first image using afirst plurality of pixels of said first display screen, and wherein saiddisplaying said first image further comprises displaying said firstimage in accordance with said first screen designation code; anddisplaying said second image on said second display screen of saidmulti-component display, wherein said displaying said second imagefurther comprises displaying said second image using a second pluralityof pixels of said second display screen, and wherein said displayingsaid second image further comprises displaying said second image inaccordance with said second screen designation code.
 41. The system ofclaim 40, wherein said displaying said first image further comprisesdisplaying said first image with partial transparency to enable viewingof said second image through said first image.
 42. The system of claim40, wherein said displaying said first image and said displaying saidsecond image are performed contemporaneously.
 43. The system of claim39, wherein said first image and said second image overlap.
 44. Thesystem of claim 39, wherein said first image is associated with aforeground, and wherein said second image is associated with abackground.
 45. The system of claim 39, wherein said assigning saidfirst screen designation code further comprises assigning said firstscreen designation code based upon a screen function of said firstimage.
 46. The system of claim 45, wherein said screen function isselected from a group consisting of an always-on-top identifier and analways-at-back identifier.
 47. The system of claim 39, wherein saidmethod further comprises: determining, from said data, a depthrelationship of said first image with respect to said second image;wherein said assigning said first screen designation code furthercomprises assigning said first screen designation code based upon saiddepth relationship; and wherein said assigning said second screendesignation code further comprises assigning said second screendesignation code based upon said depth relationship.
 48. The system ofclaim 39, wherein said first image is configured for manipulation by auser, and wherein said second image is a component associated with saidfirst image.
 49. The system of claim 48, wherein said component isselected from a group consisting of a software function, a template, adrop down menu, a function key, a cursor, a tool bar and a heads-updisplay.
 50. The system of claim 39, wherein said first and seconddisplay screens each comprise a respective liquid crystal display (LCD).51. The system of claim 39, wherein said assigning said first and secondscreen designation codes are performed by a display driver.
 52. Thesystem of claim 39, wherein said first and second images are associatedwith an application configured for execution by a computer systemcoupled to multiple display devices.
 53. The system of claim 39, whereinsaid first and second images are associated with an operating system.54. The system of claim 39, wherein said first and second images areassociated with a web browser.
 55. The system of claim 39, wherein saidfirst and second images are associated with an application selected froma group consisting of a spreadsheet application, a word-processingapplication, a database application, a presentation application, agraphical application, a drawing application, an instrumentationapplication, a medical application, a financial application, ascientific application, and a gaming application.
 56. The system ofclaim 39, wherein said first and second images are associated with ageographical information system.
 57. The system of claim 39, whereinsaid first and second images are associated with content selected from agroup consisting of a video and a still image.